Umbrella frame assembly



June 8, '1943. J, LEVIN 2,321,495

UMBRELLA FRAME ASSEMBLY Filed March 27, 1942 Patented June 8, 1943 UNITED Umanista FRAME ASSEMBLY Joseph Levin, Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Theodore Levin, Harold Levin, and Bernard Levin, jointly,

all of Baltimore, Md.

Applacatin March 27, 1942, serial No. 436,519

s claims. (c1. 1354-28) This invention relates to an umb-rella assembly.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved assembly which is so constructed that the parts thereof may be easily and cheaply manufactured and assembled and will provide a strong assembly wherein the rib wires are eliminated and wherein one or more ribs may be removed or broken o at the pivoted points thereof without affecting the remaining ribs.

Another object `of this invention is to provide an assembly of this kind including a pair of telescoping rib supporting elements and means for removably securing the elements together and each element being formed with an annular slotted collar and the collars being disposed in confronting position to retain the ribs therebetween.

A further object of this invention is to provide a runner and cap structure for umbrellas which may be formed by stamping so as to thereby permit quicker assembly and elimination of a number of operations now performed in the assembly of such structures. Y

To the foregoing objects and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

Figure 1 is a vertical section, partly broken away, of a runner and cap structure for an umbrella constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail top plan of the cap structure.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation of one portion of the cap.

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of another portion of the cap.

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation of the runner with the rib retaining element removed therefrom.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical section of a portion of the runner structure.

Referring to the drawing the numeral I0 designates generally an umbrella staff of conventional construction which has secured to the upper portion thereof a cap structure, generally designated as I I and a runner structure generally designated as I2 is slidably mounted on the staif I0 below the cap II.

The cap structure or assembly II comprises an inner cylindrical sleeve I3 which has formed integral with the lower end thereof, an annular flange I4 which is formed with a plurality of radially arranged slots I5 within which the upper end portions I6 of ribs I'I are adapted to loosely engage. The sleeve I3 adjacent the upper portion thereof, as shown in Figure 4,'is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart upwardly extending bendable retaining or clamping lingers I8 which areV struck from the body of the sleeve I3', the sleeve I3 being formed with parallel slits I9 extending from the upper end thereof and terminating at a point above the lower end thereof. An outer rib retaining member, including a sleeve 2B, is adapted to telescope over the inner sleeve I3 and is formed at its lower end with an annular'flange 2l provided with a plurality of radially arranged slots 22 Awithin which the upper end portion I6 of the rib I1 may engage. The slots 22 are adapted to register with the slots I5 and preferably an annular washer or spacing member 23 is disposed about the inner sleeve I3 below the lower end of the sleeve 20 and holds the ange ZI in spaced relation to the flange I4 so that the upper end portion I6 of the rib Il, which have transversely extending pivot pins 23a, extending therethrough may freely rock in the space between the two flanges, I4 and 2'I.

The upper end portion of the outer sleeve 20 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart recesses or notches 24 within which the retaining fingers I`8 are adapted to engage. As shown in Figure 1 the lingers I8 are adapted to be bent right angularly Voutwardly as shown at 25 and then bent downwardly as at 2S. The downwardly bent portion 26 engages against the periphery or outer side of the sleeve 20 and the right angular portion 25 is adapted to seat ina notch yor recess 24. In this manner the bent fingers I8 hold the two sleeves I3 and ZI!l against endwise movement and also hold these two sleeves against rotary or circumferential movement, one A member 29 which is adapted to slidably engage on the staff l below the cap structure Il. The sleeve 29 is formed with an elongated opening 39 within which the conventional runner latching member, which is carried by the staff I9, is adapted to engage. The runner sleeve 29, at a point downwardly from the upper end thereof, is formed with an annular bead 3I` which is struck outwardly from the sleeve 29 and forms an annular seat for an annular flange or ring 32. The flange or ring 32 is pressed tightly on the sleeve 29 so that this flange will not rotate relative to the sleeve 29 and the bead-3l holds the flange 32 against downward movement with respect to the sleeve 29. The ange or ring 32 is formed with a plurality of radially arranged slots 33 through which the inner end portions 34 of bracing members 35 are adapted to loosely engage, The inner end portions 34 of the bracing members 35 have Vtransversely extending pivot pins-36 extending therethrough which are adapted to pivotally engage-on the upper sideof the flange-or ring-32. TheV flange or ring 32 is also formedwith-an upstanding annularflange 31 which providesa retaining means for retaining the pivot pin 3S against outward movement.

The sleeve 29 has telescoping about the upper end'portion thereof an outer retainingsleeve 38 which, at-its lower end, is formed with an annular fiange 39. The`v flange 39is formed with a plurality of radially arrangedslots 40 adapted-to register with the slots 33. The fiange 39 is maintained-in vupwardly spaced relation with respect tothe fiange or ring 32 byv means of Va spacing washer 4I. interposed between the twoanges 32 and 39. The outer diameter of the washer 32 is substantially less than the inner diameter of the annular or cylindrical flange-31 so that the pivot pins SS'may freely rockin the space between the two flanges 32 and 39. The outer sleeve 38, at its upper end, Visfolrmed witha plurality of circumferentially spaced apart recesses thatV the fingers 43V may be bent inwardly of the` sleeve 29 when it is desired to release the outer sleeve 33. The fingers 43,' as'shown in Figure 1, are adapted to be bent right angularly and outwardly as at 45 and then bent downwardly as at 43 along the outer side of the outer sleeve 33. 'Ihe right angular portion-45 is adapted to seat in a recess or notch 42 so as to` thereby hold the outer sleeve 38 against circumferential movement with respect to the innersleeve 29. This outwardly extending portion 45 also holds the two'sleeves 29 andBSjagainst both endwise and rotary movement one relative to the other,

The runner and cap assembly hereinbefore `described may be stamped out ofsuitable metal and by reason of this stamping the cost'offconstructing these assemblies maybe materially reducedland in addition the costof putting the several parts of each assemblytogether is-also very materially reduced.

, In addition to this the construction ofthe cap and'runner as hereinbefore described permits a quickeriassembly of the several parts-forming each element andin the use of the "umbrella the ribs will not break any. portion' ofthe cap or` runner assemblyas has beenheretofore the pracflanges;

tice where a wire has been used as a pivot and retaining member for the ribs and the rib braces. When one rib or brace breaks, with a construction as hereinbefore described, the user of the umbrella may readily break off the rib or brace adjacent the cap or runner and still use the umbrella as the runner and cap assembly will not come apart when a rib or rib brace breaks.

If it is desired to replace a broken rib or brace it is only necessary to bend the retaining fingers upwardly and inwardly a distance sufficient to permit the outer sleeve to be moved upwardly a short distance-whereupon the broken rib or brace may be removed and a new rib or brace replaced. The inwardly bent clamping fingers may then be returned to their normal clamping position.

What I claim is:

1. In an umbrella a rib retaining structure comprising an inner cylindrical member, a slotted flange carried by said member, an outer cylindrical membertelescopingover said inner member, a slotted kflangecarried bysaid outer member and disposed inV confronting position relative to saidl first'V flange, said outer member being formedvwith atleast-one recess in-an end thereof", and at least one bendablenger carried by said'inner-member engageablein said recess for holding said members-in telescoping relation, and also holding saidV members against circumferential movement one relative to the other.

' 2. In an umbrellaa rib retaining structure comprising an innery cylindrical member, a slotted flange carried by said member, an outer cylindrical member telescoping-over said inner member, a slottedlflange4 carried by said'outer member and'disposedin confronting position relative to said first fiange, said outer member being formed with a plurality ofv circumferentially spaced apart recesses in one end thereof, a plurality'of locking fingers carried by said inner memberengageable in said recesses for locking said'mem'bers together, and a washer about said inner member and interposed between said anges.

3. In an umbrella a rib retaining structure comprising an inner cylindrical member, a slotted fiange carriedfby said member, an outer cylindrical member telescopingover said inner member; a slotted fiangecarriedbysaid outer member and disposed. in confronting position relative to said first flange, said.' outer. member being formed with a. plurality of circumferentially spaced'apartrecessesin one end thereof, a-plu rality oflocking fingers carried by sad inner member engageable in said recesses: for locking said members together, anda washer about said member and interposed between said flanges, said washer having an outer diameterA substantially less than the outer diameters of said flanges.

4. In an umbrella a rib retaining structure comprisingA an inner cylindrical member, a slotted flange carried by said member;v a` cylindrical slotted fiange carried by said; first flange, an outer cylindrical member telescoping overA said inner member, a slotted flange carried by said outer member and 'disposedin' confronting *position relative to saidffirstfiiange and Vengaging within:said cylindrical' flange, saidouter member being formed-with a Iplurality of circumferentially spaced apart recesses in one-endfthereof, a plurality of locking fingerscarried' bysaid inner member engageableA in-said' recesses'for locking said members together, and* a washer-about said inner member and interposed between said 5. In an umbrella a rib runner comprising a cylindrical runner member, an annular bead carried by said member intermediate the ends thereof, an annular slotted flange carried by said member and seating against said bead, a cylindrical slotted flange carried by said first flange, a sleeve telescoping said runner above said first flange, an annular slotted ange carried by said sleeve, engaging in said cylindrical flange, said sleeve having a plurality of recesses in one end thereof, and a plurality of bendable ngers integral with said runner member engageable in said recesses for holding said sleeve and runner member against endwise and circumferential movement relative to each other.

6. In an umbrella a rib runner comprising a cylindrical runner member, an annular bead carried by said member intermediate the ends thereof, an annular slotted ange carried by said member and seating against said bead, a cylindrical slotted ilange carried by said rst ilange, a sleeve telescoping said runner above said rst ange, an annular slotted flange carried by said sleeve, engaging in said cylindrical flange, said sleeve having a plurality of recesses 1n one end thereof, a washer interposed between said annular anges, and a plurality of bendable lingers integral with said runner member engageable in said recesses for holding said sleeve and runner member against endwise and circumferential movement relative to each other.

7. In an umbrella a cap comprising an inner cylindrical member, an annular slotted flange xed relative to the lower end oi said member, a cylindrical slotted flange carried by said flange, a sleeve telescoping said cylindrical member, an annular flange fixed relative to the lower end of said sleeve and engaging Within said cylindrical flange, said sleeve having a plurality of recesses in the upper end thereof, and a plurality of outwardly projecting locking members carried by said cylindrical member and engaging in said recesses for holding said cylindrical member and sleeve against circumferential and endwise movement relative to each other.

8. In an umbrella a cap comprising an inner cylindrical member, an annular slotted ange fixed relative to the lower end of said member, a cylindrical slotted flange carried by said flange, a sleeve telescoping said cylindrical member, an annular flange fixed relative to the lower end of said sleeve and engaging within said cylindrical ilange, said sleeve having a plurality of recesses in the upper end thereof, a Washer interposed between said annular flanges and having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of said cylindrical ange, and a plurality of outwardly projecting locking members carried by said cylindrical member and engaging in said recesses for holding said cylindrical member and sleeve against circumferential and endwise movement relative to each other.

JOSEPH LEVIN. 

